1.Face painting
For Indians, painting on the face and body is a serious and solemn rite. Like the songs and dances, the different colours reflect the feelings, the intentions and the designs of the wearer.
Native Americans have always applied on their skin colours prepared by themselves using plants and minerals, motifs suitable for all possible occasions : cultural ceremonies, hunting, war, council meetings or recreational dancing. In the eyes of the Indian, the application of colours to their skin is, even today, an act that is out of the ordinary.
For Indians, painting on the face and body is a serious and solemn rite. Like the songs and dances, the different colours reflect the feelings, the intentions and the designs of the wearer.
Native Americans have always applied on their skin colours prepared by themselves using plants and minerals, motifs suitable for all possible occasions : cultural ceremonies, hunting, war, council meetings or recreational dancing. In the eyes of the Indian, the application of colours to their skin is, even today, an act that is out of the ordinary.
2. Funeral Practices
First of all, depending on the tribes, funeral practices are different.
In some, the body of the deceased was cremated, in others it was buried or placed on scaffolding, facing the sky, far from the people to cut them off from the world of the "living".
Some tribes buried their dead with all the objects that had belonged to them, such as their jewellery, weapons and pottery.
Animals (dogs, horses...) were killed or placed with the deceased.
Others organised burial ceremonies, women cut their hair and mutilated their arms as a sign of mourning.
The Mounds are huge collective mud-covered graves built by the Mississippi Indians. They are tombs reproducing the shape of a pregnant woman's belly. It is a way of honouring motherhood.
(There was also a dance that was done to honour the dead and free the spirits, it was called "the Ghost Dance").
First of all, depending on the tribes, funeral practices are different.
In some, the body of the deceased was cremated, in others it was buried or placed on scaffolding, facing the sky, far from the people to cut them off from the world of the "living".
Some tribes buried their dead with all the objects that had belonged to them, such as their jewellery, weapons and pottery.
Animals (dogs, horses...) were killed or placed with the deceased.
Others organised burial ceremonies, women cut their hair and mutilated their arms as a sign of mourning.
The Mounds are huge collective mud-covered graves built by the Mississippi Indians. They are tombs reproducing the shape of a pregnant woman's belly. It is a way of honouring motherhood.
(There was also a dance that was done to honour the dead and free the spirits, it was called "the Ghost Dance").
3. Purifying rituals :
For the Indians of North and South America, specific plants were used in fumigations for purification purposes. This beneficial use has survived over the centuries associated with certain rituals.
Purifying the body and spirit, driving away bad energies, but also "blessing" a place in order to provide a favourable context for prayer for these rites, Native Americans have always used "magic" plants.
California white sage (Salvia apiana) is the most emblematic. As soon as it is harvested, the plant gives place to rites of thanks to Mother Earth. Its smoke is recognised by the Natives as purifying, protective and capable of driving away negative energies. In the past, they smoked it to conclude an alliance, friendship or peace.
For the Indians of North and South America, specific plants were used in fumigations for purification purposes. This beneficial use has survived over the centuries associated with certain rituals.
Purifying the body and spirit, driving away bad energies, but also "blessing" a place in order to provide a favourable context for prayer for these rites, Native Americans have always used "magic" plants.
California white sage (Salvia apiana) is the most emblematic. As soon as it is harvested, the plant gives place to rites of thanks to Mother Earth. Its smoke is recognised by the Natives as purifying, protective and capable of driving away negative energies. In the past, they smoked it to conclude an alliance, friendship or peace.
4. Native Americans totems:
The word totem comes from "ototeman" in Ojibwe, which means "his family, his clan", or "family coat of arms". The totem pole is a wooden pole from the Native American tribes (NW North America). This "tradition" can reach several tens of meters high. The sculptures represent or symbolize traditional beliefs, the family tree of a family or clans. The animals depicted on totem poles (such as the beaver, wolf, raven, eagle, frog and snake...) serve to visually assert the belonging to a group and its identity.
Totem poles represent animals that have always had a very important place in Amerindian life. All the animals depicted possess valuable powers from their point of view.
They illustrate the cultural heritage of a family or a people. They are of great importance, for example, the posts are present as signs of welcome to visit the village, as mortuary vessels for the remains of deceased ancestors.
The word totem comes from "ototeman" in Ojibwe, which means "his family, his clan", or "family coat of arms". The totem pole is a wooden pole from the Native American tribes (NW North America). This "tradition" can reach several tens of meters high. The sculptures represent or symbolize traditional beliefs, the family tree of a family or clans. The animals depicted on totem poles (such as the beaver, wolf, raven, eagle, frog and snake...) serve to visually assert the belonging to a group and its identity.
Totem poles represent animals that have always had a very important place in Amerindian life. All the animals depicted possess valuable powers from their point of view.
They illustrate the cultural heritage of a family or a people. They are of great importance, for example, the posts are present as signs of welcome to visit the village, as mortuary vessels for the remains of deceased ancestors.
5. Sign language :
To communicate with each other, the Indians agreed on a language that everyone understands : sign language.
Each tribe had its own particular sign that enabled them to introduce themselves. But strangely enough, tribal identifications were preceded by the Indian signifying gesture: they rubbed their hands back and forth twice. They could then introduce themselves, discuss and trade. It was mostly an imitative language based on the imitation of the object being talked about.
6."pow-wow" celebration:
The word pow wow comes from the Algonquin language and was originally used to designate a council or gathering, often of a warlike nature (celebration of warlike exploits). Today, pow wows are major festive events (social, spiritual or competitive) that allow the Amerindian cultural heritage to endure and spread.
They bring together different Amerindian tribes and celebrate dance, song and traditions.
The dancers are all dressed in sumptuous traditional costumes.
The word pow wow comes from the Algonquin language and was originally used to designate a council or gathering, often of a warlike nature (celebration of warlike exploits). Today, pow wows are major festive events (social, spiritual or competitive) that allow the Amerindian cultural heritage to endure and spread.
They bring together different Amerindian tribes and celebrate dance, song and traditions.
The dancers are all dressed in sumptuous traditional costumes.
Léa , Loélie , Keryann